Hibiscus plant named ‘Whirl Wind’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of Hibiscus plant named ‘Whirl Wind’, characterized by its very glossy, undulate, very dark green leaves; upright, outwardly spreading, uniform, dense and symmetrical plant habit that is appropriate for container production; very freely flowering; numerous dark pink and pale pink bi-colored-flowers with dark red “eyes”; good resistance to flower bud abscission; and excellent postproduction longevity.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar ofHibiscus, botanically known as Hibiscus rose-sinensis and hereinafterreferred to by the cultivar name Whirl Wind.

The new Hibiscus is a product of a planned breeding program conducted bythe Inventor in Alva, Fla. The objective of the breeding program is tocreate new freely-branching Hibiscus cultivars with uniform and compactplant habit appropriate for container production, early and uniformflowering, numerous flowers per lateral branch, desirable flower color,resistance to flower bud abscission, and good postproduction longevity.

The new Hibiscus origninated from a cross made by the Inventor in Alva,Fla., of the Hibiscus rosa-sinensis cultivar Waikiki, disclosed in U.S.Plant Pat. No. 7,834, as the female, or seed, parent with the Hibiscusrosa-sinensis cultivar Florida Sunset, not patented, as the male, orpollen, parent. The cultivar Whirl Wind was discovered and selected bythe Inventor as a flowering plant within the progeny of the stated crossin a controlled environment in Alva, Fla., on Oct. 13, 1995.

Compared to plants of the female parent, the cultivar Waikiki, plants ofthe new Hibiscus have smaller flowers and flower several days earlier.In addition, plants of the new Hibiscus have bi-colored flowers, thatis, dark pink petals with a pale pink picotee margin, whereas plants ofthe cultivar Waikiki are solid pink. Plants of new Hibiscus are muchmore uniform in plant habit; have darker green, thicker and moreattractive leaves; produces more flowers per plant per day; and differin flower color compared to plants of the male parent, the cultivarFlorida Sunset.

Asexual reproduction of the new Hibiscus by terminal cuttings taken in acontrolled environment in Alva, Fla., has shown that the unique featuresof this new Hibiscus are stable and reproduced true to type insuccessive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The cultivar Whirl Wind has not been observed under all possibleenvironmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat withvariations in environment such as temperature, light intensity,nutrition and water status without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘Whirl Wind’. These characteristics incombination distinguish ‘Whirl Wind’ as a new and distinct cultivar:

1. Very glossy, undulate, very dark green leaves.

2. Upright, outwardly spreading, uniform, dense and symmetrical planthabit that is appropriate for container production.

3. Very freely flowering, numerous dark pink and pale pinkbi-colored-colored flowers with dark red “eyes”.

4. Good resistance to flower bud abscission.

5. Excellent postproduction longevity.

Plants of the new Hibiscus can be compared to plants of the cultivarBimini Breeze, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 10,582. However, inside-by-side comparisons conducted in Alva, Fla., plants of the newHibiscus differ from plants of the cultivar Bimini Breeze in thefollowing characteristics:

1. Plants of the new Hibiscus have lighter green leaves than plants ofthe cultivar Bimini Breeze.

2. Plants of the new Hibiscus flower more uniformly than plants of thecultivar Bimini Breeze.

3. Flowers of plants of the new Hibiscus are slightly smaller thanflowers of plants of the cultivar Bimini Breeze.

4. Plants of the new Hibiscus and the cultivar Bimini Breeze differ inflower color as plants of the new Hibiscus are bi-colored, whereasplants of the cultivar Bimini Breeze are solid pink in color.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearanceof the new Hibiscus, showing the colors as true as it is reasonablypossible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type.

The photograph on the first sheet comprises a side perspective view of atypical plant of ‘Whirl Wind’.

The photograph on the second sheet comprises a close-up view of atypical flower of ‘Whirl Wind’. Both photographs were taken when plantswere about 7 months old. Flower and foliage colors in the photographsmay appear different from the actual colors due to light reflectance.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The following observations, measurements and values describe plantsgrown in Alva, Fla., with five plants per 16.5-cm containers inpolyethylene-covered greenhouses, during the late spring underconditions which closely approximate commercial production. Nighttemperatures ranged between 13 to 24 degrees centigrade. Daytemperatures ranged between 21 and 32 degrees centigrade. Plants wereabout 7 months old when descriptions were taken. In the description,color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society ColourChart except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance areused.

Botanical classification: Hibiscus rosa-sinensis cultivar Whirl Wind.

Parentage:

Female or seed parent.—Hibiscus rosa-sinensis cultivar Waikiki,disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 7,834.

Male or pollen parent.—Hibiscus rosa-sinensis cultivar Florida Sunset,not patented.

Propagation:

Type.—By terminal cuttings.

Time to initiate roots.—About 10 days at temperatures of 24° C.

Time to develop roots.—About 28 days at temperatures of 24° C.

Rooting habit.—Moderately vigorous, thick and well-branched.

Plant description:

Plant form and growth habit.—Perennial, evergreen, upright, outwardlyspreading, compact, uniform, dense and symmetrical plant habit.

Branching habit.—Freely branching, usually about four lateral branchesdevelop after removal of terminal apex.

Plant height, soil level to top of flowers.—About 32 cm.

Plant diameter, area of spread.—About 42 cm.

Lateral branch description.—Length: About 22 cm. Diameter: About 5 mm.Texture; Immature, smooth; mature, woody and rough. Color: Immature:Green, 146A, overlaid with brown, close to 165A. Mature: Gray, close to197A to 197B.

Foliage description:

Arrangement.—Alternate, single; numerous; symmetrical.

Length.—About 9.2 cm.

Width.—About 6.6 cm.

Shape.—Ovate.

Apex.—Acute.

Base.—Obtuse to slightly cordate.

Margin.—Crenate.

Aspect.—Undulate.

Texture.—Glabrous and glossy on both surfaces.

Color.—Young foliage, upper surface: Much greener than 147A. Youngfoliage, lower surface: Much greener than 147A. Mature foliage, uppersurface: Darker and greener than 147A. Mature foliage, lower surface:Greener than 147A.

Petiole.—Length: About 3.3 cm. Diameter: About 2 mm. Texture: Mostlysmooth with very fine pubescence on upper surface. Color: Close to 166A.

Flower description:

Natural flowering season.—Usually spring and summer or during periods ofwarm weather.

Flower arrangement.—Flowers arranged singly at terminal leaf axils. Veryfreely flowering with usually about three or four flower buds and/oropen flowers per terminal apex. Flowers face upright to slightlyoutward.

Flower appearance.—Rounded, dark pink and light pink-edged bi-coloredpetals with dark red “eye”. Flowers are open for about one day beforeclosing. Flowers persistent.

Flower diameter.—About 11.75 cm.

Flower bud (just before showing color).—Rate of opening: About one ortwo days depending on temperatures. Length: About 3.2 cm. Diameter:About 1.6 cm. Shape: Elliptic.

Petals.—Texture: Smooth, satiny. Arrangement: Corolla consists of fivepetals that overlap. Shape: Spatulate with rounded apex. Margin: Entire,but slightly ruffled. Length: About 7.75 cm. Width: About 5 cm. Color:Upper surface: Center, 58B to 58C to darker than 52A; margin, a gradualcolor change of 54A to 54B to 54C to 56C to 56D over time. Lowersurface: Center, 52D to 56D; margin, a gradual color change from 55D to56A over time, slight yellow where petals overlap; base, 56D to white.Throat or “eye”: Dark red, 53A; glossy.

Sepals.—Appearance: Five sepals fused into a star-shaped calyx. Shape:Linear. Texture: Slightly pubescent. Color, outer surface: 146A.

Bracts.—Appearance: About six fused at base. Length: About 1.6 cm.Width: About 3 mm. Shape: Linear. Color: 147A.

Peduncles.—Length: Short, about 4.2 cm. Diameter: About 2.5 mm at base.Angle: Upright to slightly bent. Strength: Strong, flexible. Texture:Slightly pubescent. Color: 144A; anthocyanin at knuckle and at base,close to 187A.

Reproductive organs.—Androecium: Stamen number: Numerous, about 47.Stamen length: About 5 mm. Filament color: White, 155D. Anther size:About 1 mm by 0.5 mm. Amount of pollen: Abundant. Pollen color: 14A.Gynoecium: Pistil length: About 8.5 cm. Style color: Base, 53A to 52A;mid-section and apex, white, 155D. Stigma appearance: Five, rounded.Stigma diameter: About 2 mm. Stigma color: Close to 17A.

Disease resistance: Resistance to known Hibiscus diseases has not beenobserved on plants grown under commercial greenhouse conditions.

Seed production: Seed production has not been observed.

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Hibiscus plant named ‘Whirl Wind’,as illustrated and described.